Opinion page editor Rick Holmes and other writers blog about national politics and issues. Holmes & Co. is a Blog for Independent Minds, a place for a free-flowing discussion of policy, news and opinion. This blog is the online cousin of the Opinion
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Opinion page editor Rick Holmes and other writers blog about national politics and issues. Holmes & Co. is a Blog for Independent Minds, a place for a free-flowing discussion of policy, news and opinion. This blog is the online cousin of the Opinion section of the MetroWest Daily News in Framingham, Mass. As such, our focus starts there and spreads to include Massachusetts, the nation and the world. Since successful blogs create communities of readers and writers, we hope the \x34& Co.\x34 will also come to include you.

Not enough attention has been paid to Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner who has deemed himself under the NBA constitution to be Don Sterling’s judge, jury and executioner. I have a few problems with Silver, aside from the fact the rapidity of his actions demonstrate participation in a lynch mob, rather than the calm, considerate and wise consideration one would expect from an individual allegedly granted the powers he claims. I question whether he has age and wisdom to judge Sterling. And although he has a law degree and spent a few years as a lowly litigation associate at a New York firm and clerking for a judge, I question his ability to weigh and consider evidence as the sole juror. And as a Jew, I have severe problems with his role as Sterling’s executioner. In every mob, there is always one person, quaking with fear that he could be the next victim, who holds his torch a litter higher, raises his shrill voice a little more screechy, points his pitchfork with the attitude of one who knows that he protests too much, we’ve seen them in the death camps of Germany and Poland, and now the NBA. Funny thing is, I don’t expect much from Sterling. He has his obvious faults, but no one demands a perfect being own a basketball team. All you need is money. But more should be expected of Adam Silver, who seems to have broad and unfettered and arbitrary power as NBA Commissioner. His primary job as Commissioner is to keep the money flowing, and to keep controversy from overwhelming that objective. His conduct this week will not take the spotlight off the NBA, but will shine the light much more brightly on the NBA, the Owners and how the monopoly is run. Sterling is an older, wiser, sharper and smarter lawyer than Silver, and Sterling can destroy the NBA only because Silver has handed hi the sword. Sterling was just being Sterling. Adam Silver is the one who something to answer for.